Summary of different cell types and their role in the normal and leukemic HSC niches

Cell typeSecreted or expressed factors (molecular pathways)Healthy nicheAML nicheAltered molecular pathways
Non-hematopoietic cells
Osteoblasts
  • CSF3

  • BMPRIA

  • Osteopontin/CD44

  • Control HSC expansion and self-renewal

  • Regulation of HSC homing, quiescence, and mobilization

  • Control the generation of adaptive immune cells

  • AML decreases osteoblast production

  • AML decrease OSP

  • AML increases CD44 expression

Unchecked activation of the RANK/RANKL pathway
OsteocytesCSF3 (indirect way)Regulation of osteoblast--
Nestin+ mesenchymal cells
  • CXCL12

  • SCF

  • Differentiation to osteoblast, chondrocytes and adipocytes

  • Enhance HSC differentiation and maintenance of HSC

  • Mediate sympathetic circadian signaling to HSC

  • MSCs increase CD271+ MSCs JAG1

  • MSCs decrease SCF

  • Enhancement of BM homing of AML LSCs

  • Supporting low proliferative but highly resistant LSCs

CXCL12/CXCR4
CAR cellsCXCL12
  • Maintaining HSC

  • Maintaining lymphoid progenitors

  • CXCR4 expression is increased by AML blast

  • CXCL12 secretion is increased by CAR cells

  • CXCL12/CXCR4

  • Activation of JAK/STAT, PI3K/AKT, and MEK/ERK pathways through CXCL12/CXCR4

Non-myelinating Schwann cellsTGFB (SMAD) signalsHSC quiescenceDisruption of nestin GFP+ cell quiescence-
SNSCatecholaminesControlling the cyclical circadian release of HSCsSNS denervation enhances leukemic cell proliferationAltered B2-adrenergic pathway
AdipocytesAdiponectinNegative regulators of homeostatic
  • AML cells increase lipolysis

  • AML cells increase FAO

  • GDF15 is highly expressed by LSCs

  • Upregulation of PPARG, FABP4, and BCL2 genes by LSCs

Endothelial cells
  • Selectin E

  • Selectin P

  • VCAM1

  • Express Notch ligands

  • Doorkeeper

  • Maintaining HSCs

  • Increase HSC quiescence and self-renewal

  • Promote adhesion of LSCs

  • Stimulates AML cells and proliferation

  • Angiogenesis

  • Notch pathway

  • CD44/Selectin E

  • VLA4/VCAM1

  • DLL4 pathway

Hematopoietic cells
Osteoclast
  • RANKL pathway

  • Proteolytic enzymes

  • Maintenance of the endosteal niche cavities

  • HSC mobilization

  • Osteoclast depletion is associated with an increase in EH

--
Macrophages
  • Oncostatin M

  • Prostaglandin E2

  • HSCs mobilization

  • HSCs retention in the endosteal niche

  • Macrophages increase CXCL12/CXCR4 by nestin+ MSCs

  • Promote Erythropoiesis

LAM helps in chemotherapeutic resistance-
Lymphocytes-
  • Regulation of hematopoietic stem cell growth

  • T-regs play a crucial role in immune tolerance

  • T-regs create a protective zone from the immune attack

  • AML dysregulates T-cells

  • AML evades detection by NK cells

  • Exhaustion of CD8+ T-cells

  • Dysregulation in Th1/Th2 axis

  • Increase in dysregulation in Th1/Th2 axis and its cytokines

  • AML increase T-regs

  • AML stimulates T-regs

  • TIM3/LGALS9

  • ICOSLG

NeutrophilsIndirect role mediated by macrophagesClearance of aged neutrophils by macrophages regulates HSCs mobilization--

HSC: hematopoietic stem cell; AML: acute myeloid leukemia; RANK: receptor activator of nuclear factor κB; RANKL: receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand; MSCs: mesenchymal stromal cells; BM: bone marrow; LSCs: leukemic stem cells; CAR: CXCL12-abundant reticular; TGFB: transforming growth factor-beta; GFP: green fluorescent protein; FAO: fatty acid β-oxidation; EH: extramedullary hematopoiesis; LAM: leukemia-associated macrophage; NK: natural killer; T-regs: regulatory T-cells; BMPRIA: bone morphogenetic protein receptor type IA; VCAM1: vascular adhesion molecule 1; SNS: sympathetic nervous system; VLA4: very late antigen 4; GDF15: growth differentiation factor 15; OSP: osteopontin. -: no data